Springboard Careers Guide 2020 Springboard Careers Guide 2020 PDF

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Springboard Careers Guide 2020Springboard Careers Guide 2020Springboard Careers Guide 2020Springboard Careers Guide 2020Springboard Careers Guide 2020Springboard Careers Guide 2020...

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QUT LAW SOCIETY

CAREERS GUIDE SPRINGBOARD 2020

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CAREERS GUIDE 2020 The QUT Law Society would like to sincerely thank the following firms for sponsoring the Springboard Careers Guide:

Ashurst

King & Wood Mallesons

Clayton Utz

K&L Gates

Colin Biggers & Paisley

McCullough Robertson

Gadens

Norton Rose Fulbright

HopgoodGanim

QUT PLT

Johnson Winter & Slattery

Thomson Geer

Jones Day

Acknowledgement must also go to the following people for the creation of this Guide: Edward Williams Director of Media and Communication

Gideon Caturla Publications Officer

Alexandra White Publications Officer

Mikayla Toms Design Officer

We’d also like to thank Lee Moy for providing us with an interview for the Tips and Tricks section, as well as past QUTLS committees and the QUT Law Faculty for their contributions.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TRADITIONAL OWNERS The Queensland University of Technology Law Society (QUTLS) acknowledges the Turrbal and Yugara, as the First Nations owners of the lands where QUT now stands. We pay respect to their Elders, lores, customs and creation spirits. We recognise that these lands have always been places of teaching, research and learning. The QUTLS acknowledges the important role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people play within the QUT community.

RECONCILIATION STATEMENT We recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the custodians of the land, and have a traditional association with the land in accordance with their laws and customs. We acknowledge that for reconciliation to be sustainable over time, local communities and institutions must support, and be involved in, the process. We are committed to inclusion, reconciliation and consultation to ensure the future of Australia is one where our First Peoples are afforded equal opportunity. In 2020, the QUTLS welcomes commencing First Nations students, and wish you every success in your studies and beyond.

ABOUT SPRINGBOARD Law school can sometimes be tricky and stressful, particularly when it comes to choosing where you want your studies to take you. Studying law does not necessarily mean you must become a lawyer. There are endless opportunities that come with legal education. With this in mind, the Springboard Careers Guide is a roadmap that is designed to help you find your path to success. Within these pages lie comprehensive materials for those looking to advance into their next stage of professional development – specifically those approaching clerkship and graduate year. Springboard provides information on a range of different possibilities, for diverse and challenging environments that you may strike a particular interest in. QUT Law Society aims to offer insight into what is required to take that next step, what you need to do, and who you should talk to. We have compiled the profiles of many firms (both major and minor), financial firms, government departments, various not-forprofit organisations and other businesses, so that YOU can have that headstart when entering the job market. We recommend that once you find an opportunity that ignites your interests that you undertake further research into the area or role. Springboard is intended as a guide, prepared by students for students, based on what we think is the most important information you should know when looking to the future. QUT Law Society wishes you all the best in your future endeavours and successes – remember, anything is possible!

CONTENTS APPLICATIONS CLERKSHIP & GRADUATE PROGRAM BASICS ................................................11 QLS GUIDELINES ..............................................................................................15 COMMENTS FROM CLERKS AND GRADUATES ...............................................17 CV TIPS...............................................................................................................19 LEE MOY’S TIPS AND TRICKS...........................................................................20 LEGAL CAREERS................................................................................................26 JOBS OUTSIDE THE LEGAL INDUSTRY................................................................28 COMMENTS FROM JOBS OUTSIDE THE LEGAL INDUSTRY.................................30

FIRM PROFILES FIRM DIRECTORY...........................## ALLENS LINKLATERS......................32 ASHURST....................................34 BAKER MCKENZIE.........................37 BARRY.NILSSON.........................38 CLAYTON UTZ................................40 COLIN BIGGERS & PAISLEY.......44 CORRS CHAMBERS & WESTGARTH.47 GADENS.................................49 GILBERT & TOBIN..........................51 HOPGOODGANIM LAWYERS.......53 HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS.........55

HWL EBSWORTH LAWYERS..........57 JOHNSON WINTER & SLATTERY...59 JONES DAY....................................61 K&L GATES....................................63 KING & WOOD MALLESONS........65 MCCULLOUGH ROBERTSON..........67 MINTERELLISON.......................70 NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT...........72 CLIFFORD CHANCE.......................73 QUT PLT..........................................74 SPARKE HELMORE........................76 THOMSON GEER...........................77

FINANCE FIRM PROFILES FINANCE FIRMS DIRECTORY ..........................................................................89

PUBLIC SECTOR FIRM PROFILES PUBLIC SECTOR FIRMS DIRECTORY .............................................................93

COMMUNITY LEGAL CENTRE PROFILES COMMUNITY LEGAL CENTRE DIRECTORY....................................................96 ARTS LAW CENTRE OF AUSTRALIA................................................................98 COMMUNITY LEGAL CENTRES QUEENSLAND...............................................99 LGBTI LEGAL SERVICE INC.............................................................................100 NUNDAH COMMUNITY LEGAL CENTRE.......................................................101 RUFUGEE & IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICE...............................................102

QUT LAW SOCIETY

QUTLS PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS It is my pleasure to introduce the 2020 edition of the QUTLS Careers Guide, brought to you by the QUT Law Society. Inside you will find a comprehensive collection of information related to vacation roles, clerkships, graduate programs and volunteering opportunities from the corporate, government and non-profit sectors. You’ll also find information on how to tackle the different processes, handy tips and tricks, and reflections from students who have been through it all before. It’s been said that the law industry is slow to evolve and embrace innovation – but this is changing. Rapidly. New technologies, new industries and new ways of thinking have meant that now more than ever, a career in law is becoming increasingly diverse in both the types of roles available and how those roles are actualised. The tradeoff for this increased variety is that making informed decisions about your career (or careers) can be that much tougher. And making career decisions are big decisions. My advice is to take yourself out of your comfort zone and be courageous in your future decision making. Make connections and seize opportunities you may not have otherwise, and be sure to enter each moment with an open mind – you’ll be surprised with what you may enjoy! We are fortunate to find ourselves at QUT Law School where the legal theory is world-class and the university is at the forefront of preparing students to tackle these new challenges in the real world. Between that and the QUT Law Society’s events and initiatives, which are designed to sharpen your skills and support your development, you couldn’t be better placed to not only be informed about your career, but to propel it. This guide has a wealth of information to inspire your next steps and I hope it serves you well. This year’s publication would not be possible without the support of our corporate sponsors, in particular the team and I would like to thank QUT Practical Legal Training, Herbert Smith Freehills, King & Wood Mallesons and McCullough Robertson as our generous platinum sponsors. Finally, this guide would not have been possible without our dedicated publications team, Ed Williams, Gideon Caturla, Alexandra White and Mikayla Toms. I’d like to shine a light on their incredible efforts in the creation of this resource and thank them on behalf of all students who will use it to shape their futures. – Ben Quick, QUTLS President

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QUTLAWSOCIETY.COM

QUTLS VICE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS Each year, students are bombarded with an array of material suggesting that there is a decreasing demand for lawyers, and our career prospects are limited if we don’t have the GPA and legal experience required to obtain a ‘Golden Ticket’ to clerk at Brisbane’s leading firms. With the assistance of all of our major sponsors and with testimonials sourced directly from QUT law students, the 2020 Careers Guide brought to you by the QUT Law society has been perfectly curated to be the perfect companion to your law degree and to assist you in both the clerkship and graduate application process. The Guide also outlines the wide diversity of opportunities available to law students whether it be in private practice, working for non-commercial bodies or within the financial sector. Every time I sit down at my desk at work and am tasked with researching an obscure issue or drafting correspondence to clients, I am thankful that my QUT law degree has equipped me with an array of bespoke skills that enable be to approach the task with a logical mindset. I am also able to apply my problem-solving skills and my ability to actively listen and communicate to everyday life. From my own personal experience and as a veteran fifth year student heading into my penultimate year of study, my best advice would be to get involved with all of the extracurricular activities and initiatives that both the QUT Law Society and the QUT Law Faculty run, make a bunch of long lasting friends and study hard! Whatever your passion or future endeavours, the QUT Law Society seeks to support you as best as possible and hopes this guide as well as our ongoing support available in person or via email assists you in getting there. I hope each of our readers find a job they are passionate about that is also challenging and rewarding.

– Crystal McPhillips, QUTLS Vice President

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APPLICATIONS

QUTLAWSOCIETY.COM

CLERKSHIP & GRADUATE PROGRAM BASICS WHAT WHAT IS A CLERKSHIP? CLERKSHIP? Every year, pre-penultimate and penultimate students get the opportunity to put their foot in the door at many law firms. A clerkship is a vacation program that allows students to diversify their legal knowledge through application in practical scenarios over the course of around four weeks (depending on the firm). Due to the Queensland Law Society’s Vacation Clerkship Guidelines, the participating top-tier and mid-tier firms (which can be found on the QLS’s website) open applications for their vacation clerkships on 2 March 2020 and close later in the month on 27 March 2020. If you are one of the successful candidates you will be notified on the 18 May 2020. This offer must be accepted or declined by the following day. If you are serious about landing a clerkship, you should ensure that you spend time perfecting your application, as firms will receive a number of these. If your cover letter isn’t the best it can be, you will not be maximising your chances of securing a position. Your cover letter is designed to give the reader an insight into the best areas of your studies and previous employment history.

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PRE-APPLICATION » » » »

Research the firms Refer to Grad Australia and the QLS Guidelines Come to networking events such as Clerkship Symposium & Meet the Profession Optimise/clean up your social media accounts

The best advice we can give for preparing for clerkships is to do your research. Learn about all the different opportunities and which workplaces you can see yourself in. Come along to networking events or information nights so you can apply to firms knowing that you can see yourself working there and you know your beliefs align with that firm.

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QUT LAW SOCIETY

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» Create your application. i.e. Resume, cover letter and perhaps academic transcript APPLICATION » Submit your academic transcript »

Reach out to the firm’s HR and people to know more about the firm

The initial stage of applications for clerkships will generally consist of you submitting a resume/CV, cover letter, your academic transcript (which can be obtained through eStudent) and also answering some initial questions. Some good tips for applications: 1. Try to avoid submitting generic resumes and cover letters as each firm has a different set of values and beliefs, aim to tailor your application to their selection criteria, this shows that you have taken the time to really consider that you want to be a part of their team. 2. Thoroughly check grammar, spelling and also, if choose to use a template make sure to ‘Ctrl + F’ to make sure you have not left the wrong firm name in or addressed it to the wrong person. It is an elementary mistake that recruiters see time and time again and can very easily send your application straight to the ‘no’ pile. 3. See the next page for advice on how to set out your resume. Alternatively, you can make an appointment with Lee Moy who can provide you with some advice on how to maximise your changes to impress at the application stages. Lee Moy also runs fantastic resume and cover letters sessions so keep your eyes out for those.

POST-APPLICATION

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If you are successful in your application, a series of post application tests will likely occur: » An online questionnaire to test your suitability or your knowledge in area of law » Group interview » Panel interview » Personality interview

If you are successful in the application stage, congratulations! This in itself is a great achievement and means you are moving onto the next stage. There are usually three parts to this stage which we will explain to you.

TESTING The purpose of testing can vary from firm to firm however for most they are an integral part of the clerkship recruitment process. Firms have realised that these tests are valuable in measuring skills and qualities that were not reflected in academic transcripts, such as relationship building, emotional agility and resilience. Usually the tests will relate to testing your analytical skills, your psychometric skills and your personality. Analytical is your ability to comprehend text, psychometric is your ability to problem solve complex issues and your personality test will help discover your preferred way of thinking and feeling. These tests are not used necessarily to exclude candidates but rather to assess candidates and shape your interview questions.

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QUTLAWSOCIETY.COM

FIRM EVENT NIGHTS If you are invited for an interview, the firm will usually host a function at their offices. This is a great opportunity to network with your potential co-workers but also find out more about the firm you may be working at. These events are designed for recruiters to see you in a more relaxed environment and also how you interact with others. Some good tips for this: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Make sure you arrive on time Dress for the occasion, it will usually be corporate attire Try to talk to as many people as possible, particularly firm representatives If there is alcohol available, make sure you know your limit Remember that the firm has invited you for a reason, be yourself and have fun!

INTERVIEW Finally there is the all important interview. The purpose of an interview is to show that you would be a good ‘fit’ for the firm. This is your chance to show that you are the right choice. If you make it to this stage you can be satisfied that the firm is interested in you on paper, but now you have to prove that you belong at that firm. This may be conducted in an individual or a group setting and may have multiple rounds. Whatever the case, always keep in mind that this is your chance to sell yourself and leave the interviewers with no doubt that you are the best fit for the role. Feel free to check out our more detailed interview tips on page 21. If you are one of the lucky few who get a clerkship at that firm - congratulations! You will be part of an organisation that will give you an amazing scope of new knowledge and skills. However, if you are not lucky enough to be able to secure a clerkship, don’t stress! Success in the legal industry comes in many different shapes and sizes. Whilst being a clerk provides you with a higher chance of securing a graduate position, there are still alternative pathways to pursue.

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QUT LAW SOCIETY

GRADUATE POSITIONS A graduate position is a full-time employment opportunity that commences after your graduation date. Graduate positions are usually offered to students who have previously clerked at the firm, however, many firms also recruit through an open market process. A graduate position is the perfect job to begin your legal career as you are often paired with a mentor or ‘buddy’ for a certain period of time. This mentor can guide you through any difficulties you may face. Applications for graduate positions for many firms open in August this year for intake at the start of the following year. Although this time of year is very common for graduate applications, it is important to remember that graduate positions can arise at any time. If you are unsuccessful in obtaining a graduate position in a top-tier firm, it may be useful to keep an eye out for any opportunities that may arise at mid-tier and boutique law firms. Like clerkships, if you are unsuccessful in securing a graduate opportunity, don’t stress! There is always an alternate pathway to where you want to go. Clerkship and graduate programs can often be an incredibly daunting time - you’re heading out into the real world of legal practice. Unlike an episode of Suits, clerks and graduates don’t always come prepared for what the job may throw at them. Although you won’t have Louis Litt scolding you for poor performance and inefficiency, it is always better to come into a new position with knowledge and tips.

QLS GUIDELINES 2020 RELEVANT TIMELINES: The Queensland Law Society (QLS) provides guidelines for graduate employment and vacation clerkships. The majority of firms comply with the QLS timeline for recruitment fairness. Make sure you check your firm’s specific dates. Monday, 18 May Offers made for vacation clerkships

Monday, 2 March Applications open

Friday, 27 March Applications close at 5 PM AEST

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Tuesday, 19 May Accept/decline offers for vacation clerkships at 5 PM AEST

QUTLAWSOCIETY.COM

COMMENTS FROM CLERKS & GRADUATES “My clerkship experience at MinterEllison (in the Capital Solutions team) exceeded my expectations in many ways. During the four weeks I worked on a range of exciting and technically challenging matters in a financial regulatory context. The support and supervision I received was a personal highlight as this not only assisted my learning, but also provided an opportunity to connect with more people across the team, and the firm. Overall, I’m very grateful for the experience and could not recommend MinterEllison more.” - Johnathan Langan

“My clerkship at King & Wood Mallesons was both engaging and rewarding. It was a valuable learning opportunity to experience first-hand the life and work of a commercial lawyer...